Buckle



' (No Model.)

E. E. HARDY; BUCKLE.

No. 328,936. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

I ../ttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMERY E. HARDY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,936, dated October 27, 1885.

Application led December 17, 1884. Serial No. 150,573. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, EMERY E. HARDY, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

The aim of my invention is to produce a buckle consisting of but two parts, which may be conveniently cast` and united without the necessity of being machined or fitted, which will permit the instantaneous and ready attachment and detachment of the trace or other strap, and either of the parts of which may be readily disconnected from the other for replacement by a new piece in the event of breakage.

With these ends in view it consists in a buckle composed of but two parts provided with interlocking hooks and shoulders, by which they are united one to the other, and with a hook or stud by which the trace is held.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of the buckle in an operative position, Fig. 2, a longitudinal cross-section of the same through its center, the straps being represented in dotted lines. Fig. Sisalongitudinal central section showing the manner in which the two parts are connected and disconnected. Fig. 4 is a perf spective view showing a modification of the device. Fig. 5 is aview of one of the parts of the buckle ina modified form.

A and B represent the two parts of the buckle. The front member, A, consists of a substantially rectangular frame open in the center, with the three cross-bars a, b, and c at opposite ends and the middle, respectively. The front bar, a, is designed to receive the hame-tug or its equivalent. The middle bar, c, is a pvot or means of connection with the rear member of the buckle. The rear bar, b, is designed to lie against the outer side of the trace,'and is provided on its inner face with a rigid inwardly-extending stud or hook, d, designed to enter the corresponding hole in the trace. The side bars of the part A are provided adjacent to the pivot-bar c with shoulders or offsets e of the form represented, for the purpose of preventing the accidental disengagement of the part B, as hereinafter explained.

Referring now to the part B, it will be seen that it also consists of an oblong skeleton frame, having its forward end of a width suitable for insertion through the middle of the part A, and with notchesf in its rear edge to receive the pivot-bar c. The outer sides or edges of the part B are formed with projecting shoulders or hubs h of such form that when the two parts of the buckle are united and brought to an operative position these shoulders will engage, as shown in Fig. l, with the shoulders e of the part A, and thus prevent the two parts from being disconnected. When, however, the rear end of the part B is swung inward around the pivot to the position represented in Fig. 3, the shoulders disengage and permit the parts to be disconnected y or unhooked from each other. The rear end of the part B is curved outward and provided with a cross-bar, f, to lie against the outer side of the trace. This rear end may be formed with a loop or eye, k, to receive an additional strap, if required. The forward end of the part B is preferably extended beyond the pivot-bar, as represented at l, to lie against the inner face of the trace. This feature, which may be omitted if desired, is highly advantageous, in that it serves as a means of forcing or bending the trace outward in order to facilitate the removal of its forward end from the loops through which it is usually passed. This extension of the part or plate B is also advantageous in that the strap bearing on the end Z tends to urge the opposite end against the inner face of the strap, so as to keep the latter in engagement with the stud d. The part B is also provided with a central cross-bar or plate, m, having a perforation to receive the inner end of the hook or stud d in order to give the same additional support. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that this support for the stud is not a necessary element.

The part B may be constructed with 0r without loops on its upper and lower edges. When it is to have a strap attached to its lower edge, I prefer to construct it, as represented in Fig. 4., with depending armscarrying three cross-bars, n, o, and p. The bar fn is located above and between the bars o andp, and the latter provided with a central stud, q. The strap, being passed upward inside of the IOO bar, over the top of the. bar n, and thence downward inside of the bal-p, and engaged with the stud q, will be held firmly in position. The essence of my invention lies in the construction of the parts A and B to interlock in the manner represented, and it is evident that they may be modiiied in external form to any extent desired, provided this feature is retained.

It is to be noted that the side bars of the part A are extended inward beyond the inner face of the crossbar b, forming cheeks or flanges to bear against the edges of the strap, whereby the buckle is maintained the more rmly in line with the strap and prevented from turning or twisting thereon.

While I have described my buckle with reference to its application to a trace and tug, it is of course to be understood that it is adapted for use in connection with straps of various -kinds and for various purposes, and that it may be modified in size and form to suit the requirements in individual cases.

While it is preferred to provide the part B I with the bar 7c to bear on the inner face of the strap, this bar may be omitted, in which case the part B will have the form represented in Fig.V 5. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl.- The buckle consisting of the parts A and B, part A provided with the pivot-bar C and stud d, and part B inserted through part A and pivoted on bar C, as shown and described.

2. In a buckle, the part A, having the end bars, the stud d, and the pivot c, in combination with the part B, having the rear part, t', to lie against the outside of the strap, and the notches f to admit pivot c, as shown.

3. In a buckle, the part A, having the pivotbar c, stud d, and inside shoulder, e, in combination with the part B, having the notches f, to receive the pivot-bar, and the shoulders h, adapted to interlock with shoulders e, as described, to prevent the accidental disconnection of the parts.

4. Ihe external frame, A, provided with stud d, in combination with the internal member,B, pivoted near the middle of the frame A and extended both in front and in rear of its pivot, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, 1884, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

EMERY n. HARDY.

Vitnesses:

J oHN T. ARMs, GEORGE I. HILL. i 

